With proper care, natural wood finishes in the home are beautiful. Cabinets, wall and ceiling paneling and fine wood furniture can give a home's interior a certain richness that is difficult to achieve in other ways.

The natural beauty of wood can be diminished over time as a result of a buildup of wax or cooking grease or marred from white rings.

Prevention plays a big part in keeping finishes in a home looking good, and not just those made of wood. Properly sized ventilation fans in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room will exhaust excessive moisture and cooking grease that can otherwise wreak havoc on finishes. Airborne dust is attracted to moisture and can form several layers on the surface of wood, which can obscure its natural beauty. Worse yet, cooking grease buildup results in fingerprints each time a cabinet door or drawer is opened.

We rely on some old-fashioned concoctions to clean up the natural wood finishes in our homes that we think you might like.

White rings are damage to the waxed finish and not to the wood. To remove them, make sure that the surface is clean and dry. Next, place a small amount of mayonnaise directly over the ring. A teaspoon or two will usually do the trick. Cover the area with a piece of plastic wrap and allow it to sit for about thirty minutes.

Remove the plastic wrap and, using a nylon scouring pad, lightly rub in the mayonnaise working in the direction of the grain. Wipe up all of the mayonnaise. Restore the luster to the area with pure lemon oil or paste wax.

An alternative to the mayonnaise technique is to use toothpaste or cigar ash. Simply rub a dab of toothpaste or moistened cigar ash into the wood surface with your finger. Then wipe the area dry and finish the job by applying a touch of pure lemon oil or paste wax.

Old sticky finishes can be cleaned up with a mixture made from two tablespoons of boiled linseed oil, two tablespoons of turpentine and one quart of boiling water. The turpentine removes the dirt and greasy finger marks, and the linseed oil enhances the finish.

Mix the boiled linseed oil -- it's purchased boiled -- and the turpentine in a bucket or old coffee can and add the boiling water. Wearing rubber gloves, dip a rag in the cleaner and ring it out well. Do a small section at a time and wipe dry. When the cleaner cools, the oil and turpentine will separate from the water. Properly dispose of it as you would paint and make a new batch; don't try to reheat it.

Greasy finger smudges around cabinet door and drawer pulls can be removed using a bar of Lava soap. Rub the soap into a wet rag and scrub. If that doesn't work, rub the Lava onto a damp nylon scouring pad, scrub, rinse, and wipe dry.

After using a nylon scouring pad, touch up the wood surface with Old English Scratch Cover or pure lemon oil.

Mineral spirits or paint thinner are other ways to get rid of the sticky buildup around cabinet handles. Simply pour a little onto a soft cloth and rub vigorously.

Dull finishes can be brightened by using a solution of vinegar and water. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar and one quart of water. Using a cheesecloth, work a small area and wipe dry. Once all of the washing has been done, complete the job by polishing the surface with pure lemon oil.

Distressed or dry-looking wood can magically be brought back to life with a little pure lemon oil and a soft cloth. Lemon oil is a great wood moisturizer. It restores oils that have evaporated over time and helps prevent drying and cracking. The lemon oil also will give the wood a rich sheen and provide a delightful fragrance. Pure lemon oil can also be used as a cleaner to remove wax buildup. Apply the lemon oil and let it stand for about twenty minutes before wiping it dry. More than one application may be required for heavy wax buildup.